CVE-2024-57229 in RAX5
Summary
by MITRE • 05/05/2025
NETGEAR RAX5 (AX1600 WiFi Router) V1.0.2.26 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the devname parameter in the reset_wifi function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-57229 affects NETGEAR RAX5 AX1600 WiFi routers running firmware version V1.0.2.26 and potentially other affected models within the NETGEAR product line. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes the device to unauthorized command execution capabilities through a specifically targeted parameter within the router's web interface. The vulnerability resides in the reset_wifi function which processes user input without proper sanitization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary commands into the underlying operating system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the router's web application framework. When the devname parameter is submitted to the reset_wifi function, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into system commands. This primitive form of command injection allows attackers to execute arbitrary shell commands with the privileges of the web application process, which typically runs with elevated permissions on the router's embedded operating system. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-77 and CWE-94 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically classifying as a command injection flaw that permits code execution through untrusted input channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete system compromise of affected routers. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain root access to the device, enabling them to modify network configurations, install malicious firmware, redirect traffic, or establish persistent backdoors for future access. The implications are particularly severe for residential and small office environments where these routers serve as primary network gateways, potentially exposing entire networks to lateral movement and data exfiltration attacks. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1021.001 for remote services, as it provides a direct path to execute commands and maintain access to the target network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should begin with immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR, as the vendor has likely released patches addressing this specific command injection flaw. Network administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks while monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary web management interfaces, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments of network infrastructure. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying command injection attempts and establishing incident response procedures to quickly address potential exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough network scanning to identify all affected devices and ensure complete patch deployment across all vulnerable systems within the enterprise environment.